Grade 10 - Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

Sunday School Curriculum Grade 10
II. Jesus Who Was Slapped Protested Against This Soldier’s Conduct
This emphasizes that the lowliness of Christian man does not mean cowardice but it means to
forgive when you are able to punish. In so doing man surpasses his weakness and overcome
the nature of the flesh and sublimates his innate instincts. They were filled with spitefulness
against Jesus so they nailed Him to the cross and He faced their great spite with His great love
and their violence with lowliness and when and when He was on the cross He prayed for His
murderers (Luke 23:34).
III. The Church of the Apostles is a Model of Lowliness
The early Christians behaved in lowliness and in doing so they obeyed the commandment
(Matthew 11:29).
They did not rebel against their persecutors but they achieved a spiritual revolution by
offering the testimony of blood without any spite of envy. St. Stephen was stoned and as he
was stoned the Bible said that ―He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice: Lord, do not
charge them with this sin. And when he had said this, he fell asleep‖ (Acts 7:60). The church
raised earnest prayers for the rulers who persecuted her till Saul who threatened them was
converted and became St. Paul the preacher and the chosen vessel.
St. Barbara prayed for the governor and her father who gave orders that she would be put to
extreme torture and that her body should be stripped. Phileman and Apoldenus prayed for
Arianus the governor of Insana and when they were martyred, he took some dust from their
tomb and put the dust on his eyes, which were sick, and they were healed. He turned from a
severe cruel persecutor into a great martyr ―Because of the great amount of blood the wolves
drank, they turned into lambs‖.
IV. Why Does Christianity Rejects Violence
Violence refuses love as it looks to the other person as something that should be destroyed,
and not as a person who can serve. Violence indicates weakness as it fears others and this fear
drives it to attack others to avoid being attacked.
Meekness is strength, love is strength and perfection- that is why Jesus is called the
Commander of the law of perfection and it is He that planned the best law. Violence does not
regard the humanity of man but Christianity confirms man and resists destroying others.
V. The Society Rejects Violence
Christianity rejects violence and urges people to be meek and to have a strong personality.
Civilized Societies do not permit or allow violent actions as such actions are considered
savage actions and the law was set to resist aggressions and to punish anyone who commits
such irresponsible actions wherever he is.
VI. Christian Meekness Implies Real Strength
Christian meekness does not mean indifference- it is not against firmness, as firmness is
needed in situations of defending truth and what is right. Firmness is necessary sometimes to
waken the stony conscience. Jesus was firm and strict without showing any grudge or hatred,
in many situations (Matthew 2:14; Matthew 17:7; Matthew 23:3; John 3:16). The true
meekness does not mean servility, it implies insisting on bearing witness to truth whatever the
difficulties may be. The meek would not destroy others but he offers himself as a sacrifice to
save others if necessary.
SEPTEMBER 29